Power-transmitting apparatus



Aug. 8,- 1939. J. L. REILLY POWER-TRANSMITTING APPARATUS Filed larch 23, 1936 Jnvm a 'l/I/l/IIIIIII WW i 20 Aug 8;, 193 I v 2,168,806

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POWER-TRANSMITTING APPARATUS John L. Reilly, Claremont, N. H., assignor to Sullivan' Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 23, 1936,'Serial No. 70,229

' 3 Claims. (01. (so-54.5

My invention relates to power transmitting eration at a time when the maximum quantity apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus of liquid is stored within the percussive device for transmitting a series of blows to percussivelyalthough obviously other means, as for example, actuated tools. connecting the pumping device with a chamber Ordinarily, pneumatically actuated percussive in which'the pump fluid may surge, and con- 5 toolsare extremely convenient, but their overall currentlyv shutting off the communication beefflciency from the prime mover to the tool itself, tween the fluid actuated element and the pump is relatively quite low, because of the power lost element, would accomplish the same function. in the air compressor, in the transmission of the Desirably, means for ridding the system of any 10 compressed air, and in the use of the air in air which may be mingled with the operating 10 the tool motor proper. As a result, several times liquid will be provided; and if desired, a yielding as much power must be delivered by the engine connection may be arranged at an appropriate which actuates the air compressor, as ultimately point between the prime mover and the pump is delivered in the form of effective work to the piston, so that yielding may take place at sea- 16 working implement proper. sonable times. Cooling may be provided for if 16 With the application of power through a hynecessary due to long-continued operation. If draulic column to a percussively actuated implewide. variation in amplitude of flow-travel is ment, an extremely efiicien-t power transmission intended varied length of liquid column may be is possible; and it is an object of my invention to arranged. Spring, atmospheric or super-atmos- 20 provide an improved percussive tool operating pheric pressure hammer return is possible. 20. system or apparatus. Another object of my In the accompanying drawing in which an invention is to provide an improved percussive extremely simple illustrative embodiment of my tool operating apparatus, operating on the prininvention is shown: cipie of reciprocating 'a column of liquid and caus- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a complete per ing a piston element or its equivalent to move incussive apparatus, herein in the form of a rock 25 sequence with said column, moving in advance drilling apparatus, in which the invention is of said column during the striking operation, incorporated.

and moving in a rearward direction as said Fig. .2 is a central vertical section through the column is retracted. A further object of my inpower receiving and delivering portion of the so vention is to provide an improved hydraulic drillapparatus. I ing apparatus having improved controlling means. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the Still another object of my invention is to procrankshaft and pump cylinder of the power'devide an improved hydraulic drilling apparatus livering portion of the apparatus. having improved means for transmitting blows Fig. 4 is a view partiallyin section, and parof different intensities to a tool. Other objects tially in side elevation of the structure shown 35 and advantages of my invention will hereinafter in- Fig. 3. more fully appear. Referring to the drawlng,'it may be observed The basic elements of an illustrative embodithat Fi -'1 sh ws a w r n rat n u t. se ment of my invention include a column of liquid. r y esignated i, a p w receiving and 40 as for example, 011 or water, means for applying livering unit, generally designated 2, and a power 40 pushes to one end of said column, with intermetransmission connection 3. The power deliverdiate reverse movements of said column, and ing unit I is mounted upon an appropriate portmeans actuated by the column during the apable base 4, having wheels 5, and a caster 6, plications of pushes to the latter to effect the so that the same is readily moved from place to delivery of blows at a desired point. Desirably, place by a handle, of which a portion is shown 45 the means for applying pushes may take the form at 1. On the platform 4 is a prime mover 8 .of a reciprocated pump plunger, and the means herein in the form of an electric motor, which is for transmitting the blows the form of a' piston suitably connected with a power transmitting moving in a cylinder. Desirably, means is pro-, device, generally designated 8, and herein comvided for varying the amplitude of the pushes, prising a stationary cylinder i0 mounted upon 50 for example, by increasing the range of movethe platform 4, a piston or plunger ll reciproments of the pump plunger. Desirably, means is eating in the bore ii of the cylinder 10 and conprovided for enabling the interruption of the nected by a nn c i r W n jus percussive operation, and this is preferably acable crank pin H on a crank disc l5, which is complished y interrupting he percussive opsupported-in turn by a crankshaft I6 mounted 55 in suitable bearings H on the base platform 4. A driving pulley I8 is keyed, as at Is, to the crankshaft l3, and herein a belt connects the driving pulley 2| of the motor 8 with the driving pulley l8 of the crankshaft i6. Any suitable means for adjusting the position of the crank pin'll radially in the slot 22 in the crank disc I5 may be provided, and I have shown herein, for the purpose of illustration, a purely manual adjustment with appropriate holding means 23. The rear end of the cylinder bore I2 is provided with a combined filling and venting connection 25 having a removable closure element 26, and the rear end of the cylinder bore is connected through the connecting means 3 with the power receiving and transmitting means 2, previously mentioned.

The connecting means 3 may be variously constructed, as for example being in the form of a heavy rubber hose suitably treated to render it resistant to oil and having nearly inflexible walls. Of course, it is possible that the walls of this hose may be made of less flexibility, depending upon the desired results, and it will be obvious that flexible metallic hose can. be used if desired, also a hose of rubber, or rubber and canvas, or rubber and cord composition.

The power receiving and transmitting means 2 closely resembles a percussive pneumatic drilling motor, save that the usual distributing valve mechanism is omitted. It comprises here a cylinder having a bore 3| in which a piston 32, provided with a suitable number of sealing grooves 33, is reciprocable. A built-up head construction comprising elements 34 and 35 housed within an outer head and handle member 36 is arranged at the rear end of the cylinder. The member 36 has grasping handles 31 in one of which, in a slot 38, there is pivotally supported a manually movable lever 39, which can be moved to operate a throttle valve 40. A central passage 4| in the member 34 connects, through a radial passage 42 in said member, with a chamber 43 in the member 36, and the chamber 43 is separated by a ported septum 44 from a primary chamber 45 in the member 36, with which the end of the connection 3 communicates. A valve seat 46 surrounds the port in the septum 45, and the conically formed head 41 of the valve is adapted to cooperate with said seat. A spring 43 normally tends to maintain the valve closed, said valve'closing towards said connection 3. The valve seat may be scored, or the valve traversed by a pin hole port, or a balanced type of valve may be used, if difilcultyin reopening the valve after the hammer has been stopped, should be encountered.

Now the mode of operation of this apparatus may be briefly described. It will be evident that the belt-driven connection above described constltutes a yielding power transmission arrangement, the belting slipping in the event that there is any tendency to transmit an excessive amount of power. Assuming the parts to be arranged as shown in Fig. l, and with the valve 40 closed, it will be appreciated that as soon as the motor I beings to turn over, the pump plunger II will begin to reciprocate, and if the cylinder 3| and the connection 3 are filled with liquid, outward movement of the plunger H for instance, movement to the left from the position shown in Fig. 3, will produce a partial vacuum in the connection 3, but will not be able, because of the closed position of the valve mentioned, to cause any movement of the piston 32. Inward movement of the pump plunger H in its cylinder will simply result in a relieving of thevacuum, and until the valve 40 is unseated nothing will happen, the pump plunger merely reciprocating and alternating partial vacua, and conditions, so to speak, of normal pressure. If, however, the lever 33 is depressed and the valve 4!] opened, there will be established a continuous liquid column extending from the pump plunger I I to the upper surface of the piston 32, and upon the outward stroke of the plunger ll there will be produced a condition of reduced pressure such that the piston 32 will follow the liquid column and move to its upper position. Then upon the succeeding stroke of the plunger II towards the head of the cylinder l2, the column of liquid will transmit a positive and powerful force to the piston 32 and cause the same to strike a powerful blow. So long as the valve 40 is held off its seat, reciprocation of the plunger ll will cause forward surges of the liquid column, followed by rearward surges under the action of the pressure to which the forward face of the piston 32 is subjected. That pressure may, of course, be atmospheric pressure, or if appropriate means are provided for permitting ingress but not free egress of pressure to the bore 3| in advance of piston 32, the pressure tending to force the piston rearward may exceed atmospheric pressure. If desired, a spring may be used between the forward face of the piston 32 and the forward end wall of the cylinder 33 to press the piston rearwardly and speed up still more the rearward movements thereof.

With the use of oil as the power transmitting medium, and appropriately grooving and sealing the parts, little air can secure access to the liquid system, but it can be allowed to escape when necessary by removing the plug 26 and then filling the liquid system completely full. Obviously with a given quantity of liquid within the fluid system, an increased amplitude of movement of the plunger II will occasion an increased amplitude of movement of piston 32, and accordingly varied strokes of that piston may be made to take place by adjusting the throw of the crank pin 14, varying liquid volume as needed. Obviously either air or water cooling could be provided if long running periods were to make cooling desirable. Free or pressed highly successful in operation, as well as very efficient in the transmission of power, and a five horsepower motor may be made to produce a net amount of work equal to the work secured from a usual compressor-actuated pneumatic drill having a driving motor of several times as much power. Obviously, the apparatus is extremely simple, subject to virtually no danger of serious derangement, very durable, and eifective. Moreover, with the use of oil, perfect lubrication is assured.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modifled and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a fluid-pressure-movable member providing a blow-striking surface, a power-movable member providing a liquid-column-actuating surface, means for moving said last-mentioned member positively rapidly in opposite directions with a definite stroke, means cooperating with said members totally to enclose and confine in all the relative positions of said members a constant quantity of liquid sufiicient to fill the confined space between said members when the same are at corresponding positions in their respective ranges of movement, means for providing a wholly gaseous-pressure-constituted return force for said first mentioned member, an element disposed for actuation by said first mentioned member, and an end-seating reciprocable throttle valve between said members moving on open- --ing towards said first mentioned member.

2. In an apparatus of the character described a fiuid-pressure-movable member providing a blow-striking surface, a power-movable member providing a liquid-colmnn-actuating surface; means for moving said last-mentioned gnember positively rapidly in opposite directions with a definite stroke; means cooperating with said members totally to enclose and confine in all the relative positions of said members a constant quantity of liquid sufiicient to fill the confined space between said members when the same are at corresponding positions in their respective ranges of movement, means for providing a wholly gaseous-pressure-constituted return force for said first mentioned member, an element disposed for actuation by said first mentioned member, and a reciprocable throttle valve between said members moving on opening towards said first mentioned member.

3. In combination, a cylinder containing a rementioned piston is reciprocable arranged for actuation by the latter, means providing a liquid conduit connecting said cylinders and coacting with them in confining a quantity of liquid sufilcient to fill the space in said conduit and cylinders between said pistons when the latter are in corresponding positions in said cylinders, said second mentioned piston having in its endremote from the connection of its cylinder with said conduit subject only to gaseous fluid pressure, means for rapidly positively reciprocating said first mentioned piston with a predetermined stroke, and a throttle valve openable in the direction of liquid flow toward said second mentioned cylinder and closeable while said first mentioned piston continues to be actuated, to interrupt operation of said second mentioned piston.

JOHN L. REILLY. 

